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Fran Ryan (1926-2000)
Fran Ryan

Replaced Amanda Blake (Kitty) as Miss Hannah. Blake left in the 20th season of Gunsmoke. Also...

The Wedding March 13, 1972 Written by Harry Kronman, Directed by Bernard McEveety, Guest Cast: Morgan Woodward, Sam Elliot, Melissa Murphy, Lane Bradford, James Chandler, Fran Ryan, George Wallace, Byron Mabe, Melissa Newman

She was a Marjorie Main look-alike and her roles were quite similar in style. Big, stocky with a mane of red hair usually in a bun, and strong features, she had a gravelly voice like Main's also. She was irritated when people confused her with Ms. Main. She was born on November 29, 1926 in Los Angeles, California and had been acting since the age of 6 at Oakland's Henry Duffy Theatre. She attended Stanford University for three years and during World War II was a member of the USO entertaining troups. She had done comedy, singing and acting on stage, some in Chicago, prior to her television career. She was primarily a television actress but had done some films. Ms. Ryan also specialized in voice-overs in commercials and animated films. Among her films were: "Scandalous John" (1971) as a Farm Woman, her movie debut; "The Apple Dumpling Gang" (1975) as Mrs. Stockley; "Big Wednesday" (1978) as Lucy; "Straight Time" (1978) as Cafe Owner; "Rocky II" (1979) as Adrian's Nurse; "The Long Riders" (1980) as Mrs. Samuel; "Stripes" (1981) with Bill Murray, as Dowager in Cab; "Tough Enough" (1983) as Gert Long; "Pale Rider" (1985) as Ma Blankenship; "Chances Are" (1989) as Mavis Talmadge and "Suture" (1993) as Mrs. Lucerne. On TV she had a reputation as a replacement actress as she'd replaced many series regulars in her day. Her TV credits were: "The Doris Day Show" (1968) as Aggie Thompson; "Green Acres" (1969-71) as Doris Ziffel (replacing Barbara Pepper); "Gunsmoke" (1974-75) as Miss Hannah, saloon owner of the Long Branch (replacing Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell); "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" (1975) as the voice of Gertrude Gouch; "General Hospital" (1979) a soap as Sister Agatha; "No Soap, Radio" (1982) as Mrs. Belmont; "Hollywood Wives" (1985) a mini-series as Nina Carrolle; "The Wizard" (1986) as Tillie Russell and "Little Dracula" (1991) as the voice of Hannah the Barbarian. She has also guest starred on such series as: "Batman"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "The Brady Bunch"; "Bonanza"; "I Dream of Jeannie"; "Taxi"; "Matlock"; "Night Court" and "The Commish." Her TV movies include: "Johnny Belinda" (1982); "Thanksgiving Day" (1990) and "River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene" (1993). She died on January 16, 2000 at her home in Burbank, California at age 73.son"; "Banacek"; "Little House on the Prairie" and Knight Rider."

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